Winooski animal control officer accused of improper conduct with women

May 2, 2013

Gary Francis, center, then Colchester's animal control officer, is seen in this file photo from December 2003, as he carries a dog that was pulled from Lake Champlain in Colchester. Francis has been cited to appear in court May 21 on a charge of prohibited acts involving allegations of improper conduct with women while on duty. / Free Press file

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Free Press Staff Writer

Gary Francis, the former animal control officer in three Chittenden County towns, has been ordered to appear in criminal court to face charges he offered to pay women to show him their breasts during the course of his official duties.

Winooski police say they received a complaint March 27 from a 29-year-old Essex Junction woman alleging the improper conduct. Investigators said they found several other women who said Francis offered money in exchange for viewing their breasts.

Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan said Thursday his office reviewed the allegations and determined Francis should face charges of prohibited acts.

“It’s abuse of power,” Donovan said. “We take those allegations serious. There is a power dynamic.”

A phone message left at Francis’ Colchester home seeking comment was not returned.

Officials in Colchester, Essex and Winooski said Francis resigned in early April from his contract positions as their respective animal control officer.

Francis is a retired member of the Burlington Fire Department and also was a volunteer firefighter for the Malletts Bay Fire Department. He has been recognized for his dog work including by the Humane Society of Chittenden County and the 2003 A.C.E. (Animal Compassion & Education) Award.

Francis submitted his resignation in Essex around April 1, Town Manager Pat Scheidel said. The town had paid Francis about $26,000 a year. Essex police are performing animal control duties while the town looks for a replacement.

Colchester Town Manager Al Voegele said Francis, who had been the animal control officer there for more than 13 years, resigned about a month ago. The town had paid Francis about $12,000 a year, Voegele said.

Voegele said Colchester, Essex and Winooski would likely cooperate in finding a person to replace Francis as animal control officer.

The Winooski Police Department issued a news release about the case Thursday afternoon following inquiries to city officials from the Burlington Free Press.

Winooski Police Chief Steve McQueen, who is on vacation in Florida, did not respond to a phone message. A dispatcher said Deputy Chief Rich Benoit was unavailable for comment.